Chinese and Qatar youths experience Cuju culture together at Qatar World Cup

2022-12-01 09:04

　　As a key activity of the 2022 "Cultural Journey to the Origins of Football", the China-Qatar Youth Cuju Experience was held on the morning of November 21, 2022 at the Doha Football Training Center in Qatar, along with the China-Qatar Youth Friendly Match. The event was co-organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Shandong Province, the Sino-foreign Cultural Exchange Center and Zibo Municipal People's Government, with special support from Mengniu Group.

　　Cuju is a well-known foot ball game that began in Linzi, the ancient capital of Qi during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, and has a history of more than 2,000 years. As a vivid symbol of the cross-fertilization of civilizations in human history, Cuju became a medium of cultural exchange at the recent Qatar World Cup once again, connecting Chinese and Qatari soccer players and allowing them to experience the charm of traditional Chinese Cuju culture in the warm atmosphere of the World Cup.

　　The Chinese ambassador to Qatar, Zhou Jian, said in his speech at the event that Cuju is one of the spiritual symbols and cultural essence of Chinese civilization, and hoped that this exhibition and exchange would be an opportunity to attract more Qatari people to understand and perceive Chinese culture, and promote the cultural exchange and mutual appreciation between China and Qatar.

　　Li Weipeng, the 7th generation inheritor of the Chinese Cuju team from Linzi, performed a playing Cuju on the spot, demonstrating the patterns and skills of the Cuju competition. Afterwards, Chinese and Qatari young players dressed up in traditional Chinese Cuju costumes and were led by Li Weipeng to try and experience traditional Cuju together, experiencing the similarities and differences between Cuju and modern soccer. In addition, a Cuju cultural theme photo exhibition was displayed at the event, introducing the history of Cuju, its production process and foreign exchange and dissemination, which attracted guests and young players to stop and watch.

　　After the experience, the Chinese and Qatari players posed for a group photo in front of the antique Cuju gate wearing traditional Cuju costumes. The young players from Qatar said, "Cuju and soccer are both similar and different, and it was a wonderful feelings to experience traditional Chinese Cuju during the World Cup.

　　The 2022 "Exploring the Origin of Footbal Cultural Journey" foreign exchange and promotion activities was co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Qatar, the Chinese and Foreign Cultural Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Shandong Province and the People's Government of Zibo City. With the theme of "Visit the origin of soccer and appreciate the culture of Qilu", the event organizes the World Cup fan carnival Cuju demonstration activities, Cuju cultural exchange experience for the youth of China and Qatar, and through the mainstream media at home and abroad, cooperation agencies and other platforms, including the integrated media publicity matrix, for the international community to shape the " The international image of "Hospitable Shandong Province, the origin of soccer" will be created, and the unique charm of Qilu culture in Shandong Province, China will be presented in a multi-perspective and multi-level manner.